When does a hand become dead?

[JTG51]

You wouldn't believe (actually, you probably would) how hard of a time everyone gave the kid after the hand. I really felt bad for him. Within 5 minutes everyone in the room knew about it. I think almost all of them came by the table to laugh. To his credit, he took it very well.

[Casey]

If he threw his hand face up on the table and noone else acted it should still be alive, but he never called the bet, the question should then be how long does he have to call the bet. I do not know if there is a rule on this issue, but to me it is the controlling question.